Corporate Diversity?
Posted 04-28-2021 at 08:46 PM by Blondebaerde
Occasionally it makes the news that tech in places like Seattle is allegedly prejudiced against various groups. It makes the news every few years, there is a kerfuffle, the political flacks who either run the company or their $400/hour PR people get in front of it and announce "new hiring initiatives to be more inclusive." If they do anything about it or not, I don't know. And so it continues, in my experience. My current client just created an executive role subordinate only to the head of HR titled something like, "Officer of Inclusiveness and Minority Hiring." The lady is who moved into that role is sharp and of color. If I knew her better I'd ask more about it.
Tech is White male-heavy. I am a White male. Were I a minority or woman or whatever they call non-binary/trans these days, I'd ask questions too. A good work pal for years at (large software firm in Redmond) was gay, led with it, and headed up a club or coalition at the company representing LBQT. He was great to work with, my favorite business partner in fact, but he didn't know what to make of me as I wasn't gay. Seriously, it was a bit odd to him as all his and his husband's friends were LBQT. He militantly expressed to me a few times once we got to know each other that (company) was anti-gay, anti- this and that. I listened and asked a few questions. To this day I don't know if he was onto something, or seeing shadows where none exist.
A Black female friend of mine, same place, spoke of micro-aggessions and afronts. With examples. I think she was right, but again my perspective is so different how would I know?
It's an interesting question altogther.
Tech is White male-heavy. I am a White male. Were I a minority or woman or whatever they call non-binary/trans these days, I'd ask questions too. A good work pal for years at (large software firm in Redmond) was gay, led with it, and headed up a club or coalition at the company representing LBQT. He was great to work with, my favorite business partner in fact, but he didn't know what to make of me as I wasn't gay. Seriously, it was a bit odd to him as all his and his husband's friends were LBQT. He militantly expressed to me a few times once we got to know each other that (company) was anti-gay, anti- this and that. I listened and asked a few questions. To this day I don't know if he was onto something, or seeing shadows where none exist.
A Black female friend of mine, same place, spoke of micro-aggessions and afronts. With examples. I think she was right, but again my perspective is so different how would I know?
It's an interesting question altogther.
